Gallery Artists

As important it is to have a harmonious relationship with what you are framing and where it is going to live, it is just as imperative for artists to have a close relationship with their framer. The frame should always represent the artist’s work in the best possible way, and there must be complete trust that the gallery that presents their work will do so in the best possible light.

Having artists-in-residence means that, as a gallery, we partner with artists with whom we have a rapport and who trust us to show their work in a way that reflects them wholly. We will also call on these artists to create commissioned pieces for customers and clients. We will always work as a liaison that both artist and collector can trust to bring into existence a vision of a work of art.

Purchasing original artwork is the most important element of what you hang in your home. It is not only a reflection of you, but an extension of you. When you buy original art, you are supporting artists whose creations must be viewed, shared, and enjoyed.

The Smith Gallery & Fine Custom Framing hosts three amazing artists-in-residence: Linda Williard, Thom Glace, and Jeannine Swartz. Each represents unique styles, mediums, and techniques in their collections. They are expert at what they create, and we are proud to carry a body of their works that represent their best.

Linda Williard

Nature is my home, my sanctuary. Painting brings me to this safe place. Therefore, most of my subject choices include elements of nature. I use oil paints and pallet knives, to bring the texture and aliveness to my paintings. I strive to express the peace, the tranquility, the intensity of color, the wonder and joy of nature in my art and create an invitation for you to this peaceful, safe, loving, world.

Linda Williard began creating art in childhood and painting has always been a part of her life. She raised a family of three children, while returning to college to earn a degree in mathematics and taught at the local community college as a Professor of Mathematics. During this time, she allowed time to take art classes at the college, at local art associations, and study with many of the area artists.

Growing up, surrounded by farms, mountains, streams, trees, and all of nature, her art often depicts nature and her passion for landscapes. Linda’s impressionistic, expressive, style expresses her desire to paint the vivid colors in nature. Currently her most recent works have been painted with oil and pallet knives. Her work is very painterly, textured, impressionistic and is meant to capture the feel and joy of nature. Linda’s work invites the viewers into her paintings, to observe and experience the love of nature in her expressive landscapes. Included in her works of art are still life paintings and portraits often created when the weather is not desirable to be outside to paint, but they also include her expressive, colorful style.

Her art has been featured in solo shows and exhibited at The Drake Gallery, New Cumberland; Second Floor Gallery, Mechanicsburg; Capitol Theatre, Harrisburg; and Gallery on the Square, Millersburg; and Europe. She has had her art accepted and shown in juried art shows, Women in the Arts, Greater Harrisburg Arts Festival, and local Art associations where her work was presented with award recognitions. She is a member of the York Art Association, Carlisle Area Learning Center, Mechanicsburg Art Center, Art Association of Harrisburg, Hershey Art Association and Susquehanna Valley Plein Air Painters.

Thom Glace

While Thom Glace is a native of Central Pennsylvania, he took a long path finding his way back to the Harrisburg area. He and his wife Mary lived in various locations, including North Carolina, New Hampshire, St. Croix, and The Netherlands. He has worked at a publishing firm, a newspaper, and two advertising firms including his own. He also taught college at the University of the Virgin Islands and wrote television shows in the Caribbean region. He was employed by a major electronics components company in marketing and sales and saw over 50 countries while in International Marketing for them.

After a serious heart attack, Thom was forced to retire on disability and took up watercolors as a hobby. He started painting local fish species, then expanded to paint everything from the Peacock Bass of the Amazon, to the Marble Trout of Slovenia, to the Masu (Cherry) Salmon of Japan. After many fish studies, he branched out to paint dragonfly and bird studies. His “hobby” took off, as Thom has participated in art shows, festivals, and exhibitions throughout the nation, and his art has been published in several regional and national publications. Thom holds many awards from 2014 through 2017, including Artist of the Year, Festival Artist, and the Trout Unlimited President’s Award.

When asked why he has specialized in transparent watercolor studies of fish and dragonfly species, Thom answers, “My love of nature comes from a father who loved snorkeling and took our family on island vacations where I discovered the beauty of underwater creatures. I was SCUBA diving before I was a teenager! When my wife gave me an Orvis fly fishing lesson as a gift, it changed my life.” Thom’s style of painting is what he has labeled a “Biological Study Format,” showing a species by itself in all its glory.

Thom volunteers his time and talents to many nonprofits, including Project: Healing Waters, an organization that supports wounded veterans, and Casting for Recovery, an organization supporting breast cancer survivors.

Thom Glace artwork in our gallery

Jeannine Swartz

Jeannine Swartz is an award-winning artist and signature member of the National Watercolor Society, as well as Pennsylvania, Philadelphia and Baltimore watercolor societies. Her work has earned numerous “Best of Show” and other awards in international and national juried exhibitions across the United States. Jeannine’s paintings are featured in books and publications including “Best of Flowers Painting 2,” “Best of Watercolor: Splash 21,” and Watercolor Magic magazine “25 Best Watercolors of 2005.”

Jeannine is a native of central Pennsylvania whose creative spirit and love of art was nurtured by her creative mother who taught her from a young age to sew doll clothes and arrange flower bouquets. Her painting skills were first developed in classes at Harrisburg Area Community College and advanced further while working at a publishing company. She began exhibiting her paintings in 1996. Around the same time, she became Executive Director of a non-profit visual art center, where she remained for twenty years.

Jeannine’s painting style focuses on capturing light and reflections, often highlighting the subject with a dark background. Her painting process begins with a detailed sketch followed by layers of watercolor or fluid acrylics.

Respected jurors have commented on Jeannine’s works with statements such as “Proof that beauty is a wonderful subject to paint,” and “The rendering skills of this artist stands out for sure. The artist’s attention to the details of the glass, reflections, and leaf textures are wonderful…This is a skillful painting.”

Today, Jeannine devotes her time to painting beautiful subjects that inspire her.

Jeannine Swartz artwork in our gallery